The Tribe takes a smart approach to spending in 2013

The perception might be that the Indians went on a spending spree, at least by their standards, this offseason.The reality is they were smarter, but far from generous.A Yahoo! analysis projects Major League Baseball payrolls in 2013 will exceed $3 billion for the first time. The website's projected total of $3.15 billion in salaries for baseball's 30 teams would be an increase of 7.1% from last season's total.Yahoo! estimates the Los Angeles Dodgers will have the highest Opening Day payroll — a whopping $213 million for their 25-man roster.The Indians are projected to be at about $71 million on Opening Day, which, according to the accompanying Yahoo! graphic, would be down from $78,430,300 in 2012. That number, according to other estimates we've read from last season, is off (perhaps in part because Derek Lowe's full $15 million salary in 2012 was credited to the Indians' total by some websites, when the Tribe was “only” responsible for $5 million).According to Baseball Prospectus' outstanding salary database, the Tribe's 2012 Opening Day payroll was $65,430,300. ESPN has the Tribe's 2012 total $1 million higher — $66,430,300.Regardless of the exact figure from last season, the Indians' 2013 total shouldn't be that much different, even with the club signing outfielder Nick Swisher to the largest free-agent contract in franchise history (four years, $56 million) and the additions of pitcher Brett Myers (one year, $7 million, with a 2014 team option of $8 million) and first baseman Mark Reynolds (one year, $6 million).

The reason there should only be a slight difference in the Tribe's payrolls in 2012 and 2013 — the Indians' top four salaries on Opening Day in 2012, like pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez's command, are gone.The Indians entered 2012 with Travis Hafner ($13 million), Grady Sizemore ($5 million), Lowe ($5 million) and Shin-Soo Choo ($4.9 million) as their highest-paid players.Choo was traded to the Reds in a deal that landed the Tribe a cheaper outfield alternative (Drew Stubbs, $2.825 million), and Hafner, Sizemore and Lowe are still looking for work.The 2013 version of the Tribe will feature seven players making more than $5 million.Swisher's $11 million salary leads the list, followed by closer Chris Perez ($7.3 million), Myers, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera ($6.5 million), Reynolds, Jimenez ($5.75 million) and pitcher Justin Masterson ($5.69 million).Hafner's anvil of a contract is off the Indians' books. Swisher's could become a similar burden in later years (say, 2015 or 2016, when he is due to make a combined $30 million, with a $14 million vesting option for 2017).Until then, we should see an on-field product that, unlike the difference in the payrolls, is vastly improved.

Well, unless the two starting pitchers in the $5 million club, Jimenez and Masterson, again combine for a 20-32 record with an earned-run average above 5.00.

Super stuffed

What's on your menu for Super Sunday?According to a survey by Hormel Foods, it's — surprise, surprise — pizza.The survey says 61% of its respondents prefer to eat pizza while watching the Super Bowl, compared to 23% who selected chicken wings and 8% who picked chili and guacamole and chips (the latter combination had the same percentage as chili).Quick question for Hormel: Wouldn't almost 100% of its respondents want all of the above items on their Super Sunday spread? Why have the respondents pick only one, instead of ranking them and giving them a larger menu from which to choose?My silly gripe aside, Hormel also found that 66% plan to spend $100 or less on their Super Bowl parties, 59% would prefer to prepare all the food themselves instead of ordering it, and 91% won't worry about their diet while watching the 49ers and Ravens.Now that's a number on which we can agree.You can follow me on Twitter for sports information, analysis and a breakdown of each of Ray Lewis' crying episodes during the big game.

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